THE PLACE: Mining magnate Kevin J. van Niekerk bought this four-bedroom, 1880s-era home in 2008 and treated it to a down-to-the-bricks renovation. The upgrades included a top-floor master retreat, a custom kitchen, a built-in stereo system and an outdoor saltwater swimming pool.

BRAGGING RIGHTS: Victorian semis may be ubiquitous elsewhere in the city, but they stand out among the trendy glass-and-steel constructions of the King West area (the Thompson Hotel, for instance, is right across the street).

20 thoughts on “House of the Week: $1.8 million for a Victorian home across from the Thompson Hotel”

this home is beautiful. buyers beware, i lived in this hood for years. twice a day you can expect a foul stench wafting into your gorgeous house from the slaughter house downt he street. it’s disgusting!

I am certain that with this type of renovation compromises need to be made, even if there is a generous budget. That being said, how functional is the second floor bathroom which has a nice shower yet zero counter space? I could live with the small basin but after spending 1.8 million do I really have to put my toiletries on the floor while I’m betting ready? There may be storage behind the mirrors however that is rather cumbersome when you need to have a few items out at once.

Nice house… it scream MAN HOUSE with classy apart from the pink seat dinning chairs…for a house so slim in width, could have done without the pool. Most of these victorian homes on stewart st, look like hell from the outside. Did they actually fix up the front yards?

The smell? Why not talk about the dumpsters from the restaurants that sit on the opposite side of the street all the time. And the hotel/building loading dock (so much truck traffic/noise and smells) also directly across the street from this beautiful house.
Garbage is EVERYWHERE … stuck in the dirt & few twig bushes, etc.

AND you WILL get the noise and screaming people hollering over the hotel balcony’s directly across the street.
That side has the balcony suites of the Thompson Hotel, which is crazy noisy with hotel room parties.
Just sayin.
And I live on this street. Speaking from fact.

Love, love, love it, would buy it in a second. The saline pool and low maintenance backyard is a dream! Agree with Barbara though, no counter space in the 2nd floor bath is a downside, but I guess if you can afford just over 1.8 mil, you can afford to put in a cabinet. Also, I live in the area and barely notice the slaughterhouse smell, it will also be closed in a couple years.

toronto is so delusional… you deserve what’s coming. Only way for idiots like you to learn. 1.8M for a house by a slaughterhouse, facing the ass of a hotel with garbage bins, noise, loading trucks etc…. Gimme a break!! And what are u gonna say? That toronto is like NY in Canada? or some sort stupid delusional argument typical of a housing bubble sheeple mentality? The stupidity is embarrassing. The CIBC ad right on top the title makes this even more amazing. When did people become so financially ignorant?!?!?

Betsey, if u love it so much why don’t u buy it? CIBC will give u the money if u don’t have a job. Go for it Betsey!

….uh?….its painfully obvious you have no idea what you’re talking about and took this opportunity to show your ignorance not only about real estate valuations but also about downtown Toronto itself…….enjoy the sticks

Didn’t read all the other posts, but maybe they should mention that behind this house they are building a 15 storey condo building. The construction site is annoyingly loud and dirty and it literally happens next to the pool :)))

Anytime I see a house like this featured in Toronto Life I always ask the same question, ‘why is/are the owner(s) selling given how beautiful it is and that it’s in an incredible location?’. I know this street very well and based on all the development around it and the number of nightclubs that have opened up, it’s not difficult to know the answer. It’s a real shame for the owner and for the buyer who many not know otherwise.